Boots on the Ground

In Boots on the Ground, Johanu Botha casts much-needed light on the Canadian Armed Forces' vital contribution to how governments respond to natural disasters. It is a ground-breaking book that should become required reading for those interested in emergency management in Canada. Moreover, at a time when climate change will force us to confront a growing number of natural disasters in the years ahead, this innovative study provides valuable insights about the current strengths of our disaster response system and where opportunities for improvement may be found.

- Luc Juillet, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and Institute of the Environment, University of Ottawa

Johanu Botha's Boots on the Ground is an outstanding contribution to scholarship on and practical understanding of the craft of emergency management and its interaction with Canadian federalism. It conveys a compelling mix of scholarly and managerial insights of value to policy-makers, practitioners, and anyone interested in the role of the Canadian Armed Forces as a crucial backstop to Canada's emergency response networks.

- Geoffrey Hale, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Lethbridge

This book is a unique, comprehensive analysis of the significant role played by the Canadian Armed Forces in disaster response. In addition to rich description, it offers a robust evaluation of how well the military has been integrated into emergency management. It also makes pragmatic recommendations to improve civilian-military collaboration. Botha's work is a novel and substantial contribution to scholarship on emergency management and public administration more broadly.

- Daniel Henstra, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waterloo